Top 15, that's where we live. And I am waiting with great anticipation for Jan 6th when Anthony Davis maybe, just maybe, makes us even more legit by taking a block R from the bag and dons scarlet and not an oat, or whatever Ohio State thingee is. I know we are up against it because it is hard to top a little thing like a wire to wire run into the national championship game, with Heismans in the front lobby, but maybe, just maybe, this kid from the shadow of Rutgers stadium got bitten by the Scarlet bug in the shadow of the biggest media town in the world. But even if he goes his own way, like a Brian Toal (how's that working out Toalie...), we are ready for great things in the near future.
I always hear about teams not wanting to mortgage their future for short term success, giving up too much to a chance at success now, only to have the cubboard bare for the next generation. (See Barry Switzer's Oklahoma, national prominence, followed by probation, etc.) But all I keep reading is how young this team is, and how all they have known is winning, yet the players themselves have a sense of ownership of what they have accomplished, and even with the disappoinment of a non-BCS bowl, they were able to find the silver lining and smack the heck out of K State and realize it is a step on the road to accomplishment.
The National Title game isn't a complete joke anymore, I'm not saying they will be a lock for the top-ten, but they will be ranked going into next season...but let's remember to savor this year, an amazing run, an amazing team, an amazing feeling of going on the way up.
Need a little recap of the year? The Home Tribune has a great photo montage of the year in review, makes your heart swell to see the pictures flow through...
Still in Scarlet heaven...Go RU!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
37-10
And it wasn't even that close. Announcers talking about calling off the dogs early in the 4th quarter...in a bowl game? Have you ever heard that kind of talk about Rutgers?
Welcome to a place never visited before. We're talking footsteps on the moon, finding those blind fish that shouldn't be able to exist on the bottom of the ocean, places they have only talked about, and then one day, bam you are there. A play or two away from a conference championship and a BCS bowl bid, double digit wins, respect.
Like many people, I was dreaming of tasting the oranges of Miami, but let's be real, and not be too greedy, this is the first time we have ever gone to abowl in consecutive years....which of course makes sense since the Texas Bowl marks bowl number three in Rutgers history. So, as a fan, I grew into the idea of this bowl, leaving my heartbreak at the goalline of the third overtime, and moving on to the first bowl win ever, the second 11 win season ever, and the smushing of a team like a bug that in past years wasn't a reality over any squad.
But there I sat, watching in awe, as my friends told me it was in the bag, but I didn't believe it until the clock hit zeros. Then the game is over, Schaino is getting a water bath (no Gatorade in the budget?) And then a random K-State fan came over to me, shook my hand and said he thought we had a nice team. Now mind you, K-State has been to 12 bowls in the last 14 years, and they've won in six of those trips. Think about that, twelve bowl games in the last 14 years...versus three in 137. I'll be honest with you, I don't know how to react. Yes, I am savoring the victory, the season, the players, the coach (who is staying), the positive press, but I don't know what to do next.
As a longtime fan, this is two of the best years in the modern era. And yes, although I have tremendous respect for the 60's and 70's teams that played their asses off, they were basically an Ivy League team that put together a some great seasons. But today, college football is a business, and taken much more serious by many more teams. So, this type of success seems sweeter amongst tighter competition, and toss in the lumps we have taken in the past, it is like a dream that I am walking through.
I am in Scarlet Heaven.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Fostering Greatness
The defense finally has a face. All-American Eric Foster.
Before we begin to sing his praises, it should be mentioned that just because they aren't media darlings that ESPN Gameday guys name with puppy love adoration doesn't mean these guys aren't good. If you've watched, listened or read any of the games you've heard their names called. Greene, Thompson, Frierson, Meekings, Girault, Renkart, Beckford, the McCourty twins, Collins, and the list goes on. Even a freshman like George Johnson has not only had an impact with his defensive play on the field, his emergence and opportunity aparently had an impact oon Rutgers getting a commitment from 6'4" Alex Silvestro, a bruising defensive end who liked to see the early playing time given to a first year player. And on top of that, Rutgers out-recruited teams like West Virginia, Iowa and Tennessee. Did I just write that? Tennessee out recruited by Rutgers? I might need to go get my brown paper bag to avoid hyperventilating.
But let's talk Eric Foster. His legend is well known. He blew up his knee last year in the second game of the year and he wasn't sure he would ever play again. And he is listed at 6'2" which if you know anything about the phrase "he is listed at..." in sports terms means he probably isn't 6'2", but he makes up for that with speed and that proverbial motor that doesn't stop running...check out this youtube for an example of his non-stop motor...
We got that fire...
Makes me want to strap on a block R and run through a wall.
Before we begin to sing his praises, it should be mentioned that just because they aren't media darlings that ESPN Gameday guys name with puppy love adoration doesn't mean these guys aren't good. If you've watched, listened or read any of the games you've heard their names called. Greene, Thompson, Frierson, Meekings, Girault, Renkart, Beckford, the McCourty twins, Collins, and the list goes on. Even a freshman like George Johnson has not only had an impact with his defensive play on the field, his emergence and opportunity aparently had an impact oon Rutgers getting a commitment from 6'4" Alex Silvestro, a bruising defensive end who liked to see the early playing time given to a first year player. And on top of that, Rutgers out-recruited teams like West Virginia, Iowa and Tennessee. Did I just write that? Tennessee out recruited by Rutgers? I might need to go get my brown paper bag to avoid hyperventilating.
But let's talk Eric Foster. His legend is well known. He blew up his knee last year in the second game of the year and he wasn't sure he would ever play again. And he is listed at 6'2" which if you know anything about the phrase "he is listed at..." in sports terms means he probably isn't 6'2", but he makes up for that with speed and that proverbial motor that doesn't stop running...check out this youtube for an example of his non-stop motor...
We got that fire...
Makes me want to strap on a block R and run through a wall.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
A Reason to Stay
There are two familiar refrains why head coaches leave their current jobs in most sports.
Number one: They are at a small time program and they are looking for a bigger program and a bigger challenge. (For example, Urban Meyer, Bowling Green to Utah to Florida) This makes sense, of course, because not only do you get more prestige and apply your coaching skills in a more difficult and perhaps more satifsfying way, you also get more pub and coin.
Number two: A coach will pine away to go back to his alma mater or team he/she played on. They do this I assume, to continue the tradition started by a former coach or players, and they wish to be included in that teams' lexicon of greatness. (Roy Williams going back to UNC, for your example here).
So it made a lot of sense to have Schiano going back to Miami to take over the Canes because it would in theory fulfill both of those commonly cited reasons for a coach to leave. But I offer that the grass is not greener in other pastures, rather, Rutgers is the best place for him to continue on as a coach. And in Rutgers, Schiano has a unique opportunity that not many coaches are afforded. Before I get to that, letr me toss out a couple of questions...
Who coached Penn State before Paterno, Florida State before Bobby Bowden, or who took over for Vince Lombardi, or Woody Hayes?
Answers: Charles A. "Rip" Engle at PSU, Darrel Mudra at FSU, Phil Bengston with the Packers, and Earle Bruce at OSU.
The point is, with the exception of Penn State which had a bit of success before Paterno got there, each of those legends made their respective organizations the legendary entities that they were. Rutgers has a nice little footnote of playing in the first college football game, birthplace of college football, and I admit I like the ring of that, but guess what, Delaware was the first state...exactly.
Schiano's legend is still being written. If he like Penn State so much, it is because Joe Pa is a walking legend, and not just with the X's and O'x of football. Great coaches, especially college coaches, are not simply able to win, they are able to win in an atmosphere of young men growing into adulthood. I am not naive to think that money and the business of it all isn't a factor, but go take a poll about the differences between the NFL and NCAA Div 1, and although there is tons of revenue being generated, the difference is the family atmosphere of college programs, alumni, boosters, fans, all connected by a love of an educational institution. And Schiano is doing his best to avoid the academic pitfalls that make his players athletes mainly and students by name alone.
Rutgers is his chance to make his legend from scratch and perhaps give us another cool slogan below the birthplace of college football on a t-shirt.
I am beyond happy that he is with Rutgers for the long haul.
Go RU
Random thought: When people cover Chicago's professional team, they should not put the teams nickname in front of a common word for making shots or you wind up with a sentence that begins like this:
"The Bulls hit..." unless it is going to be something like "The Bulls hit the fan and boy was it messy..."
Like I said, random thought.
Number one: They are at a small time program and they are looking for a bigger program and a bigger challenge. (For example, Urban Meyer, Bowling Green to Utah to Florida) This makes sense, of course, because not only do you get more prestige and apply your coaching skills in a more difficult and perhaps more satifsfying way, you also get more pub and coin.
Number two: A coach will pine away to go back to his alma mater or team he/she played on. They do this I assume, to continue the tradition started by a former coach or players, and they wish to be included in that teams' lexicon of greatness. (Roy Williams going back to UNC, for your example here).
So it made a lot of sense to have Schiano going back to Miami to take over the Canes because it would in theory fulfill both of those commonly cited reasons for a coach to leave. But I offer that the grass is not greener in other pastures, rather, Rutgers is the best place for him to continue on as a coach. And in Rutgers, Schiano has a unique opportunity that not many coaches are afforded. Before I get to that, letr me toss out a couple of questions...
Who coached Penn State before Paterno, Florida State before Bobby Bowden, or who took over for Vince Lombardi, or Woody Hayes?
Answers: Charles A. "Rip" Engle at PSU, Darrel Mudra at FSU, Phil Bengston with the Packers, and Earle Bruce at OSU.
The point is, with the exception of Penn State which had a bit of success before Paterno got there, each of those legends made their respective organizations the legendary entities that they were. Rutgers has a nice little footnote of playing in the first college football game, birthplace of college football, and I admit I like the ring of that, but guess what, Delaware was the first state...exactly.
Schiano's legend is still being written. If he like Penn State so much, it is because Joe Pa is a walking legend, and not just with the X's and O'x of football. Great coaches, especially college coaches, are not simply able to win, they are able to win in an atmosphere of young men growing into adulthood. I am not naive to think that money and the business of it all isn't a factor, but go take a poll about the differences between the NFL and NCAA Div 1, and although there is tons of revenue being generated, the difference is the family atmosphere of college programs, alumni, boosters, fans, all connected by a love of an educational institution. And Schiano is doing his best to avoid the academic pitfalls that make his players athletes mainly and students by name alone.
Rutgers is his chance to make his legend from scratch and perhaps give us another cool slogan below the birthplace of college football on a t-shirt.
I am beyond happy that he is with Rutgers for the long haul.
Go RU
Random thought: When people cover Chicago's professional team, they should not put the teams nickname in front of a common word for making shots or you wind up with a sentence that begins like this:
"The Bulls hit..." unless it is going to be something like "The Bulls hit the fan and boy was it messy..."
Like I said, random thought.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
One word....
WHEW!
Take that Sha La La, and cue Bowser to sing, "Goodnight sweetheart, now it's time to go..." Keep your hands off our coach Mr. Dee and Company. How great is it that Miami, the former class of the Big East, who was going to ruin everything by leaving, couldn't entice someone from lowly little Rutgers to take the money and 'prestige' of Shalala University. Everyone with a good coaching position raise your hand....Miami, not so fast, put that hand down, and go bother Bernie or Barry. Or my recommendations would be for Ms. Donna to find a corrections officer who coached in the state pen, that is the type of discipline that teams needs, not a fine upstanding and honorable man as Mr. Schiano.
In my idle thoughts, I wonder what would happen if Bowzer from Sha Na Na and Ms. Donna made it...with apologies to Conan...Sha Na Na plus Sha La La...hmmm...
Anyways, now that I got that out of my system, thank the football gods that Schiano had a vision of things to come on the banks...he is the salesman that can bring the goods to market, and sell the new era of Rutgers to young men who aren't so into going all over America. I was braced for either decision he made, although I don't know where I would have gone to cry by myself if he left.
And can we stop linking the football teams success to the so called Olympic sports demise. Of course they spent money on the program, because if they didn't spend to upgrade and bring all the elements up to at least sniffing distance of big time programs, what is the point of being in D1. Let's cash in and go to 1AA and be like Nova...are they crazy? Are these academic types not realizing the ancilary benefits of the program? You would think they would be able to see the subtle benefits of recognition, revenue streams, as well as campus and state pride the football team brings. As much as I like and respect the award winning opera singers, debate team, and calc breakthroughs, they simply aren't the type of thing that appeals and calls to a wide student body. It creates an environment of fun and energy that can overlap into other areas of campus life. Involved students and alumni helop a university grow and succeed. Enrollment grows, endowments grow, recognition grows, the university as a whole grows. So please stop tallying up the price of paying a good coach and flying the team and staff to a bowl without at least trying to guess at the economic impact beyond the gridiron. And if anything, the success of the football team can create revenue to SAVE the Olympic sports, not shove them out of the way because of the football budget. How much revenue does the swimming team generate? Ok, so it is not all about the benjamins, but part of the big picture is. Feel free to have all the bake sales you want and see if you get close to a Texas Bowl payout, and gasp, if they had only made that two point conversion, and maybe held on defense one more time...Orange Bowl, BCS, millions...(breathing heavy, feeling woozy...), ok, ok, I'm back, just had a little moment there...back to muttering a little, until I realize, at least we ain't Temple and I fall to the ground and thank the football gods again.
Go G.E., he can still being good things to life...(see earlier post for more on this line of thinking, and some of my finest photoshop work to date) We are glad you'll be staying. Where else would you want to grow old and win National Titles than the good old Garden State?
Go RU!
Take that Sha La La, and cue Bowser to sing, "Goodnight sweetheart, now it's time to go..." Keep your hands off our coach Mr. Dee and Company. How great is it that Miami, the former class of the Big East, who was going to ruin everything by leaving, couldn't entice someone from lowly little Rutgers to take the money and 'prestige' of Shalala University. Everyone with a good coaching position raise your hand....Miami, not so fast, put that hand down, and go bother Bernie or Barry. Or my recommendations would be for Ms. Donna to find a corrections officer who coached in the state pen, that is the type of discipline that teams needs, not a fine upstanding and honorable man as Mr. Schiano.
In my idle thoughts, I wonder what would happen if Bowzer from Sha Na Na and Ms. Donna made it...with apologies to Conan...Sha Na Na plus Sha La La...hmmm...
Anyways, now that I got that out of my system, thank the football gods that Schiano had a vision of things to come on the banks...he is the salesman that can bring the goods to market, and sell the new era of Rutgers to young men who aren't so into going all over America. I was braced for either decision he made, although I don't know where I would have gone to cry by myself if he left.
And can we stop linking the football teams success to the so called Olympic sports demise. Of course they spent money on the program, because if they didn't spend to upgrade and bring all the elements up to at least sniffing distance of big time programs, what is the point of being in D1. Let's cash in and go to 1AA and be like Nova...are they crazy? Are these academic types not realizing the ancilary benefits of the program? You would think they would be able to see the subtle benefits of recognition, revenue streams, as well as campus and state pride the football team brings. As much as I like and respect the award winning opera singers, debate team, and calc breakthroughs, they simply aren't the type of thing that appeals and calls to a wide student body. It creates an environment of fun and energy that can overlap into other areas of campus life. Involved students and alumni helop a university grow and succeed. Enrollment grows, endowments grow, recognition grows, the university as a whole grows. So please stop tallying up the price of paying a good coach and flying the team and staff to a bowl without at least trying to guess at the economic impact beyond the gridiron. And if anything, the success of the football team can create revenue to SAVE the Olympic sports, not shove them out of the way because of the football budget. How much revenue does the swimming team generate? Ok, so it is not all about the benjamins, but part of the big picture is. Feel free to have all the bake sales you want and see if you get close to a Texas Bowl payout, and gasp, if they had only made that two point conversion, and maybe held on defense one more time...Orange Bowl, BCS, millions...(breathing heavy, feeling woozy...), ok, ok, I'm back, just had a little moment there...back to muttering a little, until I realize, at least we ain't Temple and I fall to the ground and thank the football gods again.
Go G.E., he can still being good things to life...(see earlier post for more on this line of thinking, and some of my finest photoshop work to date) We are glad you'll be staying. Where else would you want to grow old and win National Titles than the good old Garden State?
Go RU!
Everything's big in Texas
No doubt, many Rtuegrs fans would rather be heading to Miami and drinking o.j., but I am enjoying the two year string of success nonetheless. While I believe a playoff makes sense, even a limited one, I must admit, that it would diminish the little bit of luster bowls such as the Texas Bowl have to offer. And Kanses State is a quality opponent, who at leaast for one night was better than a huge program in Texas (although they were also worse than Kansas on another night in the near future).
Make no mistake, this is a big step, to not only make the leap to a 7 win season last year, but to sustain and improve this season. I am excited that the team is young, and growing with each experience. Guys like Kenny Britt, Kordell Young, and George Johnson, true freshman who have contributed significant minutes and plays to this seasons success...Rutgers is not yet a program that can bring in guys like this and have them redshirt and get acclimated and ease into their roles. We need them now, and thankfully, they made the committment to the program.
Go RU.
Make no mistake, this is a big step, to not only make the leap to a 7 win season last year, but to sustain and improve this season. I am excited that the team is young, and growing with each experience. Guys like Kenny Britt, Kordell Young, and George Johnson, true freshman who have contributed significant minutes and plays to this seasons success...Rutgers is not yet a program that can bring in guys like this and have them redshirt and get acclimated and ease into their roles. We need them now, and thankfully, they made the committment to the program.
Go RU.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Muttering
I'm like a homeless guy with a mental disorder wandering around, muttering the f-word to myself, but then remind myself that 10 wins isn't bad, two straight bowls aren't bad, and I wonder if I am becoming the fan I loathe. The fan who is never satisfied, and can't see the success through the disappointments. Teams don't routinely go undefeated or win national championships or tear through a league to get to and perhaps win a BCS bowl game, that's what makes those accomplishments special. And the teams that do those things on a regular basis generally have a cadre of fans who get mad, even furious when their team isn't the greatest every year. This is also the reason a coach can win 80% of his games including a national title and be thrown out of his job without a peep of criticism (Coker anyone?) There can be only one national champion each year...ok, maybe two if the polls go crazy...does that make 115 or 116 other division I coaches and their teams losers and underachievers?
So, I know all that, and I am excited at the beginning of this rise, and I hope it continues for many years, but at the same time, I can't get over the feeling that we may have left something on the table. That doesn't take away from the success or the accomplishments, and in some ways sets RU up for perhaps its first ever bowl win, because Wake is good, bottom line. They may have won against a weaker ACC conference this year, but they have a potent running game, speedy WR's, and a young QB who doesn't know he shouldn't be this good this early.
Rutgers is a walking, talking, ten win miracle. They recruited well, and they won games, and they have turned it around with a fantastic coach and a stock of talented and strong character players. And I will toss in the splintering of the Big East by traitor Shalalala (I wonder if Bowser works for her...) as a factor to help because maybe Rutgers saw a chance to step into the void at the top of the conference without as much money as it would have taken to step into Va Tech, Miami, and BC's budget. As it turns out, we are approaching them, but as karma would have it, Rutgers has had a better season than all of them.
And one other thing, I had the chance to hear the radio broadcast of the game. For the most part, I enjoy their coverage of Rutgers. They are informed and relatively free of homerism, although they know when to lean in and hope things are going to Scarlet Knights way. They paint a picture of the game as they should do on radio, and often engage in situational conversation that brings fans inside the game. However, with all that being said, I have a major bone to pick with the duo of Carlin and Pernetti and it relates to their talk about James Townsend. Yes, Townsend dropped a huge pass that would have been a touchdown late in the game. But these two kept bringing it up as the play that cost Rutgers the game. Now, I am not denying that it was a huge mistake, but to rail on a guy for one play was over the top and inappropriate. Why not rail on Ito for missing the 52 yarder? According to their logic, that cost them the game too. Or blame McCourty for letting WVU get down to the 1 yard line in the third overtime in one play. That play cost them the game too. Many plays add up to why a team wins or loses a game. For example, Bill Buckner is often blamed for the Red Sox losing the World Series in 86, but people don't remember Calvin Schiraldi stinking up the joint from the pitchers mound on that night. It was irresponsible journalism to blame Townsend not only when they play happened, but throughout the rest of the telecast.
So, I know all that, and I am excited at the beginning of this rise, and I hope it continues for many years, but at the same time, I can't get over the feeling that we may have left something on the table. That doesn't take away from the success or the accomplishments, and in some ways sets RU up for perhaps its first ever bowl win, because Wake is good, bottom line. They may have won against a weaker ACC conference this year, but they have a potent running game, speedy WR's, and a young QB who doesn't know he shouldn't be this good this early.
Rutgers is a walking, talking, ten win miracle. They recruited well, and they won games, and they have turned it around with a fantastic coach and a stock of talented and strong character players. And I will toss in the splintering of the Big East by traitor Shalalala (I wonder if Bowser works for her...) as a factor to help because maybe Rutgers saw a chance to step into the void at the top of the conference without as much money as it would have taken to step into Va Tech, Miami, and BC's budget. As it turns out, we are approaching them, but as karma would have it, Rutgers has had a better season than all of them.
And one other thing, I had the chance to hear the radio broadcast of the game. For the most part, I enjoy their coverage of Rutgers. They are informed and relatively free of homerism, although they know when to lean in and hope things are going to Scarlet Knights way. They paint a picture of the game as they should do on radio, and often engage in situational conversation that brings fans inside the game. However, with all that being said, I have a major bone to pick with the duo of Carlin and Pernetti and it relates to their talk about James Townsend. Yes, Townsend dropped a huge pass that would have been a touchdown late in the game. But these two kept bringing it up as the play that cost Rutgers the game. Now, I am not denying that it was a huge mistake, but to rail on a guy for one play was over the top and inappropriate. Why not rail on Ito for missing the 52 yarder? According to their logic, that cost them the game too. Or blame McCourty for letting WVU get down to the 1 yard line in the third overtime in one play. That play cost them the game too. Many plays add up to why a team wins or loses a game. For example, Bill Buckner is often blamed for the Red Sox losing the World Series in 86, but people don't remember Calvin Schiraldi stinking up the joint from the pitchers mound on that night. It was irresponsible journalism to blame Townsend not only when they play happened, but throughout the rest of the telecast.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Possibilities
In Shawshank Redemption, Red talks about hope being a bad thing, and being locked in crappy football prison for so many years, I have been smushed by hope often. But that familiar refrain has a chance to be buried with a little magic this evening. Rutgers didn't kill anybody, and their only crime has been being a bad football husband, and whatever that crime's punishment is, they have more than served enough time. Maybe it is odds of probability, that they woudl finally hire a good coach who would finally keep enough local talent, and have some odd connection with another football power state in Florida. And if the world played the scenerio out enough times, Rutgers would come up a winner...
But that doesn't mean that the huge strides taken the last two years mean we will walk into Morgantown and walk away with an easy victory. The road is a cold and lonely place in college football. The lone easy road victory this year came after the defense ruined the team leaders leg, and I am sure that the shocked middies couldn't recover emotionally in time to get back into that game. In tonight's game, the Neers are spoilers, and probably aren't too happy after being reminded of that fact all week.
But that being said, my man Dufraine thinks hope is a good thing, and a win could be our parole where we go to Buxton, find a shiny rock that has no earthly business being there, find a map to Zihuatanejo and live in football paradise. i don't know if our visit to respectability will last a year, two years, or is a generation long thing, but my own experience says to enjoy the hell out of it now, and savor every moment I can.
Here's to savoring and some couch burning in Piscataway.
Go RU
But that doesn't mean that the huge strides taken the last two years mean we will walk into Morgantown and walk away with an easy victory. The road is a cold and lonely place in college football. The lone easy road victory this year came after the defense ruined the team leaders leg, and I am sure that the shocked middies couldn't recover emotionally in time to get back into that game. In tonight's game, the Neers are spoilers, and probably aren't too happy after being reminded of that fact all week.
But that being said, my man Dufraine thinks hope is a good thing, and a win could be our parole where we go to Buxton, find a shiny rock that has no earthly business being there, find a map to Zihuatanejo and live in football paradise. i don't know if our visit to respectability will last a year, two years, or is a generation long thing, but my own experience says to enjoy the hell out of it now, and savor every moment I can.
Here's to savoring and some couch burning in Piscataway.
Go RU
Friday, December 01, 2006
Peter King...PR Man?
Ok, here's a list and you tell me what they have in common...
Ben Roethlisberger (hey , I speeled it right!)
Peyton Manning (Colts superhuman)
Kimmie Meissner (16 year old triple axle landing world champ)
LeBron James (alien)
Liu Xiang (Chinese sprinter, broke the world record in the 110-meter hurdles)
Albert Pujols (aka, the baby, boo hoo, I only got a world series ring and not the mvp...)
Tra Battle (hard hitting safety from UGA)
Maggie Dixon (the late coach at Army)
Tiki Barber (freaky Giants RB)
and...
Brian Leonard
Give up? They are all being considered for Sportman/woman of the year. (Thanks to Rob for the heads up on this)
Brian Leonard is Peter King's pick, and while his proximity from his home in North Jersey to the Banks may have a small factor in this, or the gush job he wrote following the Louisville game notwithstanding, it is still a small miracle that Leonard is getting this kind of pub. Not for us, of course, but I wouldn't call Rutger's fans exactly unbiased in our admiration of Brian Leonard, and if you read some of the comments below King's article, many people across the country don't understand the impact of #23 on the community around Rutgers, and the state of New Jersey overall.
And I don't think it is fair to project his NFL career. There are no guarantees, and plenty of things have to break the right way for him to get drafted with a team that fits his abilities, and a coach who will utilize him to take advantage of his strengths. The NFL is a different game, a quicker game with the best of the best. I'm not suggesting I don't think he can do well in the NFL, I merely suggesting that his success in the NFL is irrelevant to his current hero status. He will always be the face of this turnaround, with all due respect to Schiano. Players and talent win games. I admire Schiano and give him the utmost respect for selling the program, but Leonard was a stud who came to Piscataway and mentored this group. Young people don't always respond to a coach hammering in details, or questioning effort, or showing someone the right way to prepare for a game, But someone like Leonard, who may or may not be a guy who gets in peoples faces and fires up his teammates...I don't know, I am not in the lockerroom. But my suspicion is that Leonard is a guy who leads by example, works his tail off, and gets the most out of his abilities. In return, his teammates see that ethic and emulate it. He will be sorely missed, but his impact will be longlasting.
From the random observation department, on the CnnSI website, there is an ad for viagra that says, "For all you weekend warriors (or athletes or something)...Play Hard." Ahem. viagra? play hard? kinda cheap...and I like it!
Go RU.
Ben Roethlisberger (hey , I speeled it right!)
Peyton Manning (Colts superhuman)
Kimmie Meissner (16 year old triple axle landing world champ)
LeBron James (alien)
Liu Xiang (Chinese sprinter, broke the world record in the 110-meter hurdles)
Albert Pujols (aka, the baby, boo hoo, I only got a world series ring and not the mvp...)
Tra Battle (hard hitting safety from UGA)
Maggie Dixon (the late coach at Army)
Tiki Barber (freaky Giants RB)
and...
Brian Leonard
Give up? They are all being considered for Sportman/woman of the year. (Thanks to Rob for the heads up on this)
Brian Leonard is Peter King's pick, and while his proximity from his home in North Jersey to the Banks may have a small factor in this, or the gush job he wrote following the Louisville game notwithstanding, it is still a small miracle that Leonard is getting this kind of pub. Not for us, of course, but I wouldn't call Rutger's fans exactly unbiased in our admiration of Brian Leonard, and if you read some of the comments below King's article, many people across the country don't understand the impact of #23 on the community around Rutgers, and the state of New Jersey overall.And I don't think it is fair to project his NFL career. There are no guarantees, and plenty of things have to break the right way for him to get drafted with a team that fits his abilities, and a coach who will utilize him to take advantage of his strengths. The NFL is a different game, a quicker game with the best of the best. I'm not suggesting I don't think he can do well in the NFL, I merely suggesting that his success in the NFL is irrelevant to his current hero status. He will always be the face of this turnaround, with all due respect to Schiano. Players and talent win games. I admire Schiano and give him the utmost respect for selling the program, but Leonard was a stud who came to Piscataway and mentored this group. Young people don't always respond to a coach hammering in details, or questioning effort, or showing someone the right way to prepare for a game, But someone like Leonard, who may or may not be a guy who gets in peoples faces and fires up his teammates...I don't know, I am not in the lockerroom. But my suspicion is that Leonard is a guy who leads by example, works his tail off, and gets the most out of his abilities. In return, his teammates see that ethic and emulate it. He will be sorely missed, but his impact will be longlasting.
From the random observation department, on the CnnSI website, there is an ad for viagra that says, "For all you weekend warriors (or athletes or something)...Play Hard." Ahem. viagra? play hard? kinda cheap...and I like it!
Go RU.
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